Israeli police say a masked gunman killed two people and wounded at least 10 others, some critically, when he opened fire Saturday in the basement of a gay community center in Tel Aviv.
The shooter, who witnesses say was dressed in black, unloaded an automatic weapon on a group of teenaged boys and girls attending a support group in the community center’s basement, and then made a clean getaway. The dead and wounded were said to be young people, including teenagers.
Tel Aviv law authorities say the attack was most likely not an act of terrorism, but a criminal attack. A city-wide search, with roadblocks and other security measures has been instituted as police search for the gunman.
The city’s police chief stopped short of calling the shooting a hate crime, but he did order other Tel Aviv gay bars to close for fear of a follow-up attack.
If it is determined to be a hate crime, it would be the most deadly attack ever against Israel’s gay community.
While gay events and community centers in Jerusalem are often met with protest, Tel Aviv has a thriving gay community.
In 2005, three participants of a gay pride parade in Israel were stabbed. An ultra-orthodox Jewish man was convicted and sentenced to 12 years in prison.
